The courage to BE resides in the God who arrives when God disappears; the 'I' that arrives when 'I' disappears.

Screen Lexicon: Art of Writing Dialogue

AFI’S DESCRIPTION OF MOVIE QUOTES CULTURAL IMPACT:Movie Quotes that viewers use in their own lives and situations; circulating through popular culture, they become part of the national (US) lexicon.

There is a certain genius in writing dialogue – because it is hardly ever about play with words – but more about allowing the character to speak through you… at the time when the words go down on paper, even the writer doesn’t fully understand the capacity of the work… and that is because he is simply the originating artist… the final artwork is always a collaboration – the final piece of originality that goes on to capture a civilization, is an amalgamation of the director’s vision, the actor’s intuition, the writer’s finesse, and most indebtedly, the spirit of the story itself. These characters exist… they existed long before they appeared on screen… and of all the stories that have been told, these have resonated most with the pulse of popular culture…

What is remarkable is how simple, seemingly meaningless ordinary text can suddenly – within their context, their irony, their subtext, their suggestiveness… the delivery of the words themselves… suddenly, become iconic. Suddenly these simple, meaningless, ordinary words… are magical – they create history, culture… one must be intuitive in the writing of dialogue… lest they miss what their character is saying…

This collection is simply a small tribute of my personal favourites that I have picked out of the 400 Nominated Movie Quotes for AFI…

I love him because he’s the kind of guy who gets drunk on a glass of buttermilk, and I love the way he blushes right up over his ears. I love him because he doesn’t know how to kiss, the jerk! – Character: Sugarpuss O’Shea, Film: Ball of Fire.

Have you ever danced with the Devil in the pale moonlight? – Character: The Joker, Film: Batman.

His eyes have made love to me all evening. – Character: Marguerite Gautier, Film: Camille.

If you are a minority of one, the truth is the truth. – Character: Mohandas Gandhi, Film: Gandhi.

In my case, self-absorption is completely justified. I have never discovered any other subject so worthy of my attention. – Character: Waldo Lydecher, Film: Laura.

Somebody stop me! – Character: Stanley Ipkiss, Film: The Mask.

But, in the opinion of the court, you are not only sane but you’re the sanest man that ever walked into this courtroom. – Character: Judge May, Film: Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.

I wouldn’t give you two cents for all your fancy rules if, behind them, they didn’t have a little bit of plain, ordinary, everyday kindness and a little looking out for the other fella, too. – Character: Jefferson Smith, Film: Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore! – Character: Howard Beale, Film: Network.

Ninotchka, it’s midnight. One half of Paris is making love to the other half. – Character: Count Leon D’Algout, Film: Ninotchka.

I cannot stand little notes on my pillow! “We are all out of cornflakes, F.U.” It took me three hours to figure out F.U. was Felix Unger. – Character: Oscar Madison, Film: The Odd Couple.

Mr. Allen, this may come as a shock to you, but there are some men who don’t end every sentence with a proposition. – Character: Jan Morrow, Film: Pillow Talk.

I want the fairy tale. – Character: Vivian, Film: Pretty Woman.

I love you. I’ve loved you since the first moment I saw you. I guess maybe I’ve even loved you before I saw you. – Character: George Eastman, Film: A Place in the Sun.

They’re here! – Character: Carol Anne Freeling, Film: Poltergeist.

Not many people know it, but the Führer was a terrific dancer. – Character: Franz Liebkind, Film: The Producers.

There are only two things more beautiful than a good gun – a Swiss watch and a woman from anywhere. – Character: Cherry Valance, Film: Red River.

Are you gonna bark all day, little doggie, or are you gonna bite? – Character: Mr. Blonde, Film: Reservoir Dogs.

I gave her my heart, and she gave me a pen. – Character: Lloyd Dobler, Film: Say Anything…

Years from now, when you talk about this – and you will – be kind. – Character: Laura Reynolds, Film: Tea & Sympathy.

In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, and they had 500 years of democracy and peace. And what did that produce? The cuckoo clock. – Character: Harry Lime, Film: The Third Man.

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it. – Character: Atticus Finch, Film: To Kill a Mockingbird.

You see, François, marriage is a beautiful mistake which two people make together. But with you, François, I think it would be a mistake. – Character: Mariette Colet, Film: Trouble in Paradise.

The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist. – Character: Verbal Kint, Film: The Usual Suspects.